WAFC honours Tiger great

The Mosman Park resident will be inducted into the WA Football Commission’s Life Members Association at Subiaco Oval this afternoon, along with Claremont Football Club director and WA football statistics pioneer Ken Casellas and South Fremantle football identity Brian Ciccotosto.

Marshall has enjoyed many successes, both on and off the field, ever since he made his senior football debut, playing for Claremont at the age of 17 in 1958.

After his first year in the league, he was selected to represent the state and went on to play for WA 14 times, including as vice-captain.

Marshall’s talent became increasingly evident while he was playing for WA and in 1964 he was recruited to play for Geelong and Victoria.

He remained in Victoria for four years, before returning to WA to captain and coach Claremont.

During his playing career, Marshall picked up some of football’s most distinguished honours, including four fairest-and-best awards for Claremont and one for Geelong.

He was runner-up for the Sandover Medal in 1962 and was also runner-up for the Brownlow Medal in 1968, while playing for Geelong.

After he retired from football, he became a member of the Geelong Hall of Fame, AFL Hall of Fame and the WA Football Hall of Fame.

This year, Marshall was inducted as a WA Football Hall of Fame legend.

He said WAFC life membership had secured his place in WA football history.

‘It’s part of the tradition of Western Australia football when you become what they consider to be a legend. There’s only 15 of us so it’s very flattering.’

At the age of 73, Marshall is still highly involved in nurturing young players at the Claremont Football Club, and said he hoped to give them the same support he had received.